Method and apparatus for peripheral connection

ABSTRACT

Attaching a peripheral device to a portable terminal includes determining one or more application programs operating in connection with an attached peripheral device, displaying a depiction of a plug of the attached peripheral device and the one or more application programs on a screen of the portable terminal, and, when a user drags the displayed depiction of a plug to select one of the one or more application programs, executing the selected application program.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an applicationfiled in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 23, 2011 andassigned Serial No. 10-2011-0122820, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to peripheral connection, andin particular, to a method and apparatus for attaching a peripheraldevice.

BACKGROUND

When detecting an attachment of a peripheral device (using a universalserial bus (USB) interface or a headset interface), a portable terminalperforms a relevant operation such as electric charge while outputting adetection sound.

However, such a user interface (UI) representing a command/sound that isdisplayed/outputted when a peripheral device is attached to or detachedfrom a portable terminal is too simple and is not intuitive because theUI is a simple command/sound output indicating the attachment ordetachment.

SUMMARY

To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary object toprovide at least the advantages discussed below. Accordingly, an objectof the present disclosure is to provide an improved method and apparatusfor peripheral connection.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method andapparatus for enabling an intuitive attachment of a peripheral device byusing, a graphical user interface (GUI).

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method andapparatus for enabling an intuitive detachment of a peripheral device byusing a graphical user interface.

According, to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method forattaching a peripheral device includes: determining one or moreapplication programs operating in connection with an attached peripheraldevice; displaying a plug of the attached peripheral device and the oneor more application programs; and when a user drags the plug to selectone of the one or more application programs, executing the selectedapplication program.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatusoperating with a peripheral device attached thereto includes: aperipheral device connecting unit for connecting a peripheral device;and a connection managing unit for determining one or more applicationprograms operating in connection with an attached peripheral device,displaying a plug of the attached peripheral device and the one or moreapplication programs, and executing, when a user drags the plug toselect one of the one or more application programs, the selectedapplication program.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method fordetaching a peripheral device includes: displaying one or moreapplication programs including an application program to be closed andoperating in connection with an attached peripheral device; displaying aplug of the attached peripheral device operating in connection with theapplication program to be closed; and closing the application program tobe closed, when a user drags the plug to separate the plug from theapplication program to be closed.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatusoperating with a peripheral device detached therefrom includes: aperipheral device connecting unit for connecting a peripheral device;and a connection managing unit for displaying one or more applicationprograms including an application program to be closed and operating inconnection with an attached peripheral device, displaying a plug of theattached peripheral device operating in connection with the applicationprogram to be closed, and closing the application program to be closed,when a user drags the plug to separate the plug from the applicationprogram to be closed.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” aswell as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term“or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and“associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean toinclude, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be containedwithin, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with,cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to orwith, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller”means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least oneoperation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware orsoftware, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should benoted that the functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely.Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout thispatent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understandthat in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, aswell as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIGS. 1A through 1C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of attaching a peripheral device using aheadset interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 2A through 2C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of attaching a peripheral device using a USBinterface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a high level flow diagram illustrating the operation of aprocess in a portable terminal for attaching a peripheral deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of detaching a peripheral device using aheadset interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A through 5C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of detaching a peripheral device using a USBinterface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a high level flow diagram illustrating the operation of aprocess in a portable terminal for detaching a peripheral deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting components of a portable terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged portable terminal. Exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, detailed descriptions of well-known functions orconfigurations will be omitted since they would unnecessarily obscurethe subject matters of the present disclosure. Also, the terms usedherein are defined according to the functions of the present disclosure.Thus, the terms may vary depending on users' or operators' intentions orpractices. Therefore, the terms used herein should be understood basedon the descriptions made herein.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method and apparatus forperipheral connection according to exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

A portable terminal will be described as an example of an apparatus forperipheral connection according to the present disclosure. However, itwill be readily understood that an example of the apparatus forperipheral connection is not limited to a portable terminal.

In addition, although a headset interface or a universal serial bus(USB) interface will be described as an example of an interface used bya peripheral device according to the present disclosure, it will bereadily understood that the interfaces used by the peripheral device arenot limited to a headset interface or a USB interface.

In general, a portable terminal supporting a touchscreen has a USBinterface and a headset interface. Also, when a peripheral device usinga USB interface or a headset interface is attached to or detached from aportable terminal, an operating system (OS) of the portable terminal mayuse a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) interface to determine thatthe peripheral device using a USB interface or a headset interface hasbeen attached to or detached from the portable terminal.

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to a method and anapparatus for automatically detecting and displaying a peripheral deviceon a screen of a portable terminal when the peripheral device isconnected to the portable terminal, executing a desired applicationprogram when a user drags the displayed peripheral device to the desiredapplication program, and releasing the peripheral connection through aninverse process thereof.

FIGS. 1A through 1C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of attaching a peripheral device using aheadset interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1A, when a headset plug 110 using a headset interfaceis attached to a headset connection jack 120 of a portable terminal, adepiction of a headset connection plug is displayed on a screen of theportable terminal under the headset connection jack 120, and applicationprograms A, B and C using the headset interface are displayed in abottom region of the screen. In this case, connection paths connectingthe displayed headset connection plug respectively to the applicationprograms A, B and C may be displayed on the screen.

Thereafter, when a user drags the displayed depiction of a headsetconnection plug (FIG. 1B) across the screen to the desired applicationprogram C (FIG. 1C), the desired application program C is executed.

In this case, the depiction of a headset connection plug is displayed onthe screen according to the movement of the user's finger for a dragoperation of the user.

FIGS. 2A through 2C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of attaching a peripheral device using a USBinterface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2A, when a USB plug 210 using a USB interface isattached to a USB connection jack 220 of a portable terminal, adepiction of a USB connection plug is displayed on a screen of theportable terminal under the USB connection jack 220, and applicationprograms A, B and C using the USB interface are displayed in a bottomregion of the screen. In this case, connection paths connecting thedisplayed depiction of a USB connection plug respectively to theapplication programs A, B and C may be displayed on the screen.

Thereafter, when a user drags the displayed depiction of a USBconnection plug (FIG. 2B) across the screen to the desired applicationprogram B (FIG. 2C), the desired application program B is executed.

In this case, the depiction of a USB connection plug is displayed on thescreen according to the movement of the user's finger for a dragoperation of the user.

FIG. 3 is a high level flow diagram illustrating the operation of aprocess in a portable terminal for attaching a peripheral deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, when detecting a peripheral attachment through aGPIO interface (in step 305), the portable terminal determines whichperipheral device is connected through the GPIO interface.

Thereafter, the portable terminal displays a plug corresponding to theconnected peripheral device on the screen (step 310). Thereafter, theportable terminal displays one or more application programs that areoperable with the connected peripheral device (step 315).

Thereafter, when the user drags the displayed plug corresponding to theconnected peripheral device to a desired application program (step 320),the portable terminal displays the plug according to a drag operation ofthe user (step 325).

Thereafter, the portable terminal executes the application program thatis selected through the drag operation of the user (step 330).

FIGS. 4A through 4C are illustrations of graphical user interfacedisplays during a process of detaching a peripheral device using aheadset interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4A, when desiring to detach a headset from a portableterminal, or when desiring to close an application program operating inconnection with a headset interface, a user selects a user menu forclosing the application program or detaching the headset.

When the user menu is selected by the user, an application program Coperating with the headset is displayed on a screen of the portableterminal. In this case, other application programs A and B using theheadset interface may also be displayed on the screen. When the userselects the application program C operating with the headset, touches adepiction of a headset connection plug connected to the applicationprogram C operating with the headset, and drags up the depicted headsetconnection plug (FIGS. 4B and 4C) to release a connection between thedepicted headset connection plug and the application program C, theapplication program C is closed. Thereafter, the user may detach aheadset plug 410 from a headset connection jack 420.

In this case, when the user does not detach the headset plug 410 fromthe headset connection jack 420 and drags the headset connection plug onthe screen to another desired application program (e.g., applicationprogram A), the portable terminal may execute the desired applicationprogram selected by the user.

FIGS. 5A through 5C are illustrations of user interface displays duringa process of detaching a peripheral device using a USB interfaceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5A, when desiring to detach a USB peripheral devicefrom a portable terminal, or when desiring to close an applicationprogram operating in connection with a USB interface, a user selects auser menu for closing the application program or detaching the USBperipheral device.

When the user menu is selected by the user, an application program Boperating with the USB peripheral device is displayed on a screen of theportable terminal. In this case, other application programs A and Cusing the USB interface may also be displayed on the screen.

When the user selects the application program B operating with the USBperipheral device, touches a depiction of a USB connection plugconnected to the application program B operating with the USB peripheraldevice, and drags up the USB connection plug (FIGS. 5B and 5C) torelease a connection between the USB connection plug and the applicationprogram B, the application program B is closed. Thereafter, the user maydetach a USB plug 510 from a USB connection jack 520.

In this case, when the user does not detach the USB plug 510 from theUSB connection jack 520 and drags the USB connection plug on the screento another desired application program displayed on the screen, theportable terminal may execute the desired application program selectedby the user.

FIG. 6 is a high level flow diagram illustrating the operation of aprocess in a portable terminal for detaching a peripheral deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, when a peripheral device disconnection is selectedby a user (step 605), the portable terminal displays an applicationprogram operating in connection with a peripheral device (step 610).Thereafter, the portable terminal displays a plug of the peripheraldevice connected to the application program (step 612).

Thereafter, when the user selects an application program to be closed(step 615) and drags up the plug to separate the plug from theapplication program to be closed, the portable terminal displays anaspect in which a connection between the application program and theplug is released and the plug ascends according to a drag operation ofthe user (step 620).

Thereafter, the portable terminal closes the application program (step630).

In this case, when the user does not detach a peripheral device plugfrom a peripheral device connection jack and drags the plug to a desiredapplication program, the portable terminal may execute the desiredapplication program selected by the user.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a portable terminal according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The user interfacedisplays of FIGS. 1A through 1C, 2A through 2C, 4A through 4C and 5Athrough 5C may be displayed on the display of the portable terminal, andthe processes of FIGS. 3 and 6 may be executed within the portableterminal.

Referring to FIG. 7, the portable terminal may include a modem 710, acontrol unit 720, a storage unit 730, a peripheral device connectingunit 735, a connection managing unit 740, a display unit 750, and aninput unit 760.

The control unit 720 may include or control the connection managing unit740.

The modem 710 may be used to communicate with another device. The modem710 may include a wireless processing unit and a baseband processingunit. The wireless processing unit converts a signal received through anantenna into a baseband signal, and provides the baseband signal to thebaseband processing unit. Also, the wireless processing unit converts abaseband signal received from the baseband processing unit into awireless signal transmittable on a wireless channel, and transmits thewireless signal through the antenna.

The modem may use any wireless communication protocol that is currentlyin use.

The control unit 720 may control an overall operation of the portableterminal. In particular, the control unit 720 may manage the connectionmanaging unit 740 according to the present disclosure.

The peripheral device connecting unit 735 may be used to connect aperipheral device (using a USB interface or a headset interface). Theperipheral device connecting unit 735 may use a GPIO interface to attachor detach the peripheral device.

The storage unit 730 may store a program for controlling an overalloperation of the portable terminal, and temporary data that aregenerated during execution of the program.

The display unit 750 may display an output of the control unit 720. Aliquid crystal display (LCD) may be an example of the display unit 750.

The input unit 760 may be used to acquire a touch input. The input unit760 may be located on the display unit 750 to provide the touch input tothe control unit 720.

When detecting a peripheral attachment through the peripheral deviceconnecting unit 735, the connection managing unit 740 may determinewhich peripheral device is connected through the peripheral deviceconnecting unit 735.

Thereafter, the connection managing unit 740 may display a plugcorresponding to the connected peripheral device on a screen.Thereafter, the connection managing unit 740 may display one or moreapplication programs that are operable with the connected peripheraldevice.

Thereafter, when a user drags the displayed plug corresponding to theconnected peripheral device to a desired application program, theconnection managing unit may display the plug according to a dragoperation of the user.

Thereafter, the connection managing, unit 740 may execute theapplication program that is selected through the drag operation of theuser.

When a peripheral device disconnection is selected by the user, theconnection managing unit 740 may display an application programoperating in connection with a peripheral device. Thereafter, theconnection managing unit 740 may display a plug of the peripheral deviceconnected to the application program.

Thereafter, when the user selects an application program to be closedand drags up the plug to separate the plug from the application programto be closed, the connection managing unit 740 may display an aspect inwhich a connection between the application program and the plug isreleased and the plug ascends according to a drag operation of the user.Thereafter, the connection managing unit 740 may close the applicationprogram.

In this case, when the user does not detach a peripheral device plugfrom a peripheral device connection jack and drags the plug to a desiredapplication program, the connection managing unit 740 may execute thedesired application program selected by the user.

As described above, the subject matter of the present disclosure canprovide a convenient and intuitive attachment/detachment of a peripheraldevice by using a graphical user interface.

While the subject matter of the present disclosure has been shown anddescribed with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes inform and details may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the abovedetailed description but by the appended claims, and all differences inscope will be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method in a mobile terminal including a touchscreen, the method comprising: detecting a connection of a peripheraldevice for outputting audio; displaying, on the touch screen, a plugimage corresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio inresponse to the detecting of the connection of the peripheral device;displaying, on the touch screen, one or more icons, respectivelycorresponding to one or more application programs that are executable onthe mobile terminal, in response to the detecting of the connection ofthe peripheral device; receiving a selection of one icon of thedisplayed one or more icons respectively corresponding to the one ormore application programs; and executing an application programcorresponding to the selected one icon, wherein the plug image isinitially displayed at a portion of the touch screen adjacent to alocation at which the peripheral device is connected in response to thedetecting of the connection.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetecting of the connection of the peripheral device for outputtingaudio comprises using a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) interface.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the selection of theone icon of the displayed one or more icons comprises receiving a userinput of a drag motion between the plug image corresponding to theperipheral device for outputting audio and the selected one icon.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising displaying the drag motion betweenthe plug image corresponding to the peripheral device for outputtingaudio and the selected one icon.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theplug image is displayed as extending from a location of the peripheraldevice connection.
 6. A mobile terminal including a touch screen, themobile terminal comprising: a peripheral device connector; and acontroller configured: to detect a connection of a peripheral device foroutputting audio; to control the touch screen to display a plug imagecorresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio in responseto the detecting of the connection of the peripheral device; to controlthe touch screen to display one or more icons, respectivelycorresponding to one or more application programs that are executable onthe mobile terminal, in response to the detecting of the connection ofthe peripheral device; to receive a selection of one icon of thedisplayed one or more icons respectively corresponding to the one ormore application programs; and to execute an application programcorresponding to the selected one icon, wherein the plug image isinitially displayed at a portion of the touch screen adjacent to alocation at which the peripheral device is connected in response to thedetecting of the connection.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, whereinthe peripheral device connector comprises a general-purpose input/output(GPIO) interface.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein thecontroller is further configured to receive the selection of the oneicon of the displayed one or more icons by receiving a user input of adrag motion between the plug image corresponding to the peripheraldevice for outputting audio and the selected one icon.
 9. The mobileterminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured tocontrol the touch screen to display the drag motion between the plugimage corresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio andthe selected one icon.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein theplug image is displayed as extending from a location of the peripheraldevice connector.
 11. A method in a mobile terminal including a touchscreen, the method comprising: detecting a connection of a peripheraldevice for outputting audio; automatically displaying, at a location onthe touch screen adjacent to the peripheral device connector and inresponse to the detecting of the connection, a plug image correspondingto the peripheral device for outputting audio; displaying, on the touchscreen, one or more icons, respectively corresponding to one or moreapplication programs that are executable on the mobile terminal, inresponse to the detecting of the connection of the peripheral device foroutputting audio; receiving a selection of one icon of the displayed oneor more icons respectively corresponding to the one or more applicationprograms; and executing an application program corresponding to theselected one icon.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting ofthe connection of the peripheral device for outputting audio comprisesusing a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) interface.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the receiving of the selection of the one icon of thedisplayed one or more icons comprises receiving a user input of a dragmotion between the plug image corresponding to the peripheral device foroutputting audio and the selected one icon.
 14. The method of claim 13,further comprising displaying the drag motion between the plug imagecorresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio and theselected one icon.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the plug image isdisplayed as extending from a location of the peripheral deviceconnection.
 16. A mobile terminal including a touch screen, the mobileterminal comprising: a peripheral device connector; and a controllerconfigured: to detect a connection of a peripheral device for outputtingaudio; to control the touch screen to automatically display, at alocation on the touch screen adjacent to the peripheral device connectorand in response to the detecting of the connection, a plug imagecorresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio; to controlthe touch screen to display one or more icons, respectivelycorresponding to one or more application programs that are executable onthe mobile terminal, in response to the detecting of the connection ofthe peripheral device for outputting audio; to receive a selection ofone icon of the displayed one or more icons respectively correspondingto the one or more application programs; and to execute an applicationprogram corresponding to the selected one icon.
 17. The mobile terminalof claim 16, wherein the peripheral device connector comprises ageneral-purpose input/output (GPIO) interface.
 18. The mobile terminalof claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to receive theselection of the one icon of the displayed one or more icons byreceiving a user input of a drag motion between the plug imagecorresponding to the peripheral device for outputting audio and theselected one icon.
 19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein thecontroller is further configured to control the touch screen to displaythe drag motion between the plug image corresponding to the peripheraldevice for outputting audio and the selected one icon.
 20. The mobileterminal of claim 16, wherein the plug image is displayed as extendingfrom a location of the peripheral device connector.